To work as a linguistic anthropologist, it is important to do fieldwork. This might mean traveling to a remote location to hear people speak language. In my case, it means actual “field” work. I herd sheep or alpacas. Other times, I plant or harvest crops. I work alongside the people I am studying.
For me, this is perfect. I listen for new words and any sign that what people are saying is different from the languages I already know.
When herding, my new neighbors and I would take the animals to the hillside where they could graze all day. On these long walks, I learned a lot about the people I was with. I also learned about the landscapes where they have lived their entire lives.
All families here grow their own food. In September, families prepare their fields to plant the crops they need for the year. My understanding of these people grew, as did the crops.